Many new students are quite surprised to discover just how stressful college life can be. The brochures all picture happy young people leisurely chatting in small groups, sitting under trees with open books, and enjoying thoughtful conversations with their professors. Oh, and having fun. But behind all this, there's a lot of pressure, which can cause a lot of stress.
In recent studies of college students around the country, researchers have identified several key sources of stress. While many of the conclusions in these studies were no surprise, the researchers also discovered several new sources of stress. Whether you're a student, a teacher, a friend, or family member of a student, you'll find it helpful to know and understand the things that cause the most stress.
Stress
1. Time Management
Problems with time management are among the biggest stressors among students. Many newcomers to college don't have the skills it takes to schedule their time in a way that allows them to fulfill all their obligations. Some of them spend too little time with their studies, while others are distracted by personal problems or other issues that take up their time and interfere with their studies.
2. Setting Priorities
One of the reasons for the time management problems is that many students find it challenging to balance their many obligations. Setting appropriate priorities is something that can take time to learn. Many students have a hard time balancing what they want to do with what they need to do, often leaving little time for academic pursuits. Many of the students in the studies commented that they felt as if they were always "on the run" and couldn't settle into any one thing comfortably.
3. Financial Stability
Worrying about money and financial stability was another key source of stress for many students. The cost of attending college is constantly increasing, which is especially burdensome to students without homes and families to support them financially. Most students found it very difficult to handle all of these obligations without feeling at least a little bit of stress.
4. Family Expectations
A great deal of stress comes from family expectations. Many students are simply attending school to please their parents, while others study subjects their parents don't approve of. Either of these situations - as well as other family-related stress - can add to the burden of coping with a heavy schedule and other pressures.
5. Personal relationships
Intimate relationships, while adding joy to life, can also add stress. It's often challenging to maintain a high academic average while also nurturing a serious relationship - or trying to find one. On the other hand, having a supportive significant other who appreciates all the hard work can actually lower stress.
6. Campus Crime
While not directly related to academia, crime on campus, whether real or hypothetical, can also add to student stress. Many students fear for their belongings as well as for their lives in unsafe neighborhoods and campuses. Living in a place that doesn't feel safe can make focusing on academic work very challenging.
7. Future Uncertainty
Uncertainty about the future also adds a great deal of stress to students' lives. Changing career prospects and shifts in personal interests make many students question their choice of majors. Coupled with potentially high student loan payments after graduation, this can add quite a bit of pressure to an already stressful student experience.
Stress and Student Success - 7 Key Sources of Stress For College Students
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